Spring brush control for carpet sweepers



March 17, 1953 F. w. PULLEN 2,631,312

SPRING BRUSH CONTROL FOR CARPET SWEEPERS Filed March 30, 1946 IN V EN TOR.

Patented Mar. 17, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SPRING BRUSH CONTROL FOR CARPET SWEEPERS Fred W. Pullen, Grand Rapids, Mich., assignor to Bissell Carpet Sweeper Company, Grand '7 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in spring brush control for carpet sweepers.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a carpet sweeper in which the brush is automatically adjusted to proper sweeping position or relation to varying lengths or depths of nap of rugs or carpets and without regard to the degree to which the wheels of the sweeper may be pressed into the nap.

Second, to provide a carpet sweeper in which the rotary brush is yieldingly urged to the nap and at the same time one in which the spring biasing stress on the brush remains approximately constant throughout the range of vertical movement of the brush relative to the floor wheels of the sweeper such as results from different characters of nap and different degrees of thrust upon the sweeper.

Third, to provide a carpet sweeper which is easily operated and one which does not depend particularly on the skill of the operator for effective sweeping.

Fourth, to provide a carpet sweeper embodying these advantages which is economical in its parts and very durable in use and one which while efficient will not unduly wear or injure the carpet or rug on which it is used.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed out in the claims.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is an end elevation of a carpet sweeper embodying my invention, parts being broken away to show structural details and parts being shown conventionally.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view partially in horizontal section on a line corresponding to line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view corresponding to that of Fig. 2 of a modified form or embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view corresponding to that of Figs. 2 and 3 of a further modification or embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the slidable journal member illustrating the relation of the spring thereto.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view in section on line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

My present invention is .an adaptation of and in some respects an improvement upon the invention of my Patent No. 2,418,725 issued April 8, 1947. I have shown only one end of the structure but it will be understood that the parts are duplicated on the other end of the structure. Further, certain parts are shown conventionally and only such parts are detailed as it is deemed necessary to give .a complete understanding of practical commercial embodiments of my invention.

Referring to the drawing, the casing is designated generally by the numeral 1 and comprises side members 2 and end members 3, the end members being arranged in an inset relation relative to the side members.

The end her 4 in the structure illustrated is relatively narrow but in some types of sweepers it is substantially of the same width and shape as the end of the sweeper casing and in fact constitutes a complete housing for the parts within the same. That form is not illustrated .as it is known in the art.

The floor wheels 5 are provided with floating axles E which are disposed longitudinally through the casing end member (5, see Fig. 6.

The spring I is mounted on the angled bracket 8 which is secured to the end members 3 of the casing at 9 for bodily movement with the easing. The free ends of the springs 7 are connected to the thrust arms H! on the bearing members H of the floor wheels 5. The spring 1 acts to bias the floor wheels toward the pulley it on the brush 12, the pulley being disposed between the floor wheels. This maintains driving engagement of the floor wheels with the brush pulley during its floating movement. This mount ing and biasing of the floor wheels being shown in prior patents issued to the applicant is not shown or described in further detail herein. The brush is mounted for vertical floating movement, the journal i l of the brush being carried by the slide l5 having laterally oifset flange-like slide engaging portions or members Id. The assem bly comprising the parts l4 and i5 constitutes a journal member. The bracket 8 depends at the outer side of the brush pulley I3 and is provided with a slideway H with which the flanges or slide engaging elements It coact as is shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

The end bar 4 is secured at its ends to the easing and is in thrust sustaining supporting relation to the bracket and constitutes an outer slideway element.

In the embodiment illustrated, the rod spring [8 is disposed through holes- 19 in the journal or slide member at the inner side or the bracket and constitutes means for holding the flanges N5 of the slide member in the slidewaysth'at is, prevents or limits the outward movement of the slideway relative to the bracket and, in the structure illustrated, coacting with the end bar 4 to that end.

The single rod spring is, in the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, slidably engaged at its ends with loops 20 struck in from the end bar 6 adjacent the ends of the end bar. These loops are designed to slidably receive the ends of the spring so that there is no binding or kinking action on the spring as the journal member moves vertically.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, the ends of the spring i=8 are engaged with the loops 2| struck up from the brackets 22 which are secured to the inner sides of the projecting ends of the casing side members.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 4, the brackets 23 are secured to the endmember 3 of the casing, these brackets being provided with loops 2! receiving the ends of the spring. The single spring is thus supported so that it is free from binding action throughout the vertical movement of the brush either at its engagement with the journal member or with the supports for the ends of the spring. The spring is, it will be noted, disposed horizontally or in approximately the horizontal plane of the journal member and is of such length that the biasing stress thereof on the brush is approximately constant throughout the vertical movement of the brush.

This mounting of the spring provides for very easy assembly in any of the forms illustrated and a spring suitable to secure the proper sweeping action is provided whether the sweeper is used on a floor or on a carpet or rug and on carpets or rugs of varying depth of nap. This is a feature of very great importance and it prevents undue sweeping or brush action on delicate rugs and carpets and on rugs or carpets having long or deep nap and without regard to the care or skill of the operator.

In commercial carpet sweepers with which the applicant is familiar other than the type Shown in the applicant said invention, it has been the common practice to provide a structure in which the pressure on the handle is the controlling factor as to brush action. The applicant has departed from this principle and has provided a structure in which the sweeping action is not only not dependent on the pressure thrust which the user may exert on the sweeper but one in which the sweeping action remains substantially constant despite such downward thrust as may be imparted by the user, it being the applicants purpose 0r accomplishment of this invention to secure an eflicient sweeping action without regard to the manipulation by the user other than the mere matter of translating the sweeper on the surface to be swept and to secure such eiiicient sweeping action with a minimum of wear on the carpets or rugs or injury to the nap thereof.

I have illustrated and described my invention in practical embodiments thereof. I have not attempted to illustrate or describe other adaptations or modifications as it is believed that this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my invention as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a carpet sweeper, the combination with a casing comprising side members and an end member, the ends of the side members projecting beyond the end member, floor wheels disposed on the outer side of the end member, a brush provided with a pulley cooperatively associated with the floor wheels, a spring for biasing said floor wheels towards said pulley, a bracket mounted on the casing end member to depend at the outer side of the pulley, said bracket being provided with a vertical slideway, an end bar disposed on the outer side of said bracket in thrust sustaining relation thereto and constituting an outer member for said slideway, a brush journal member mounted on said slideway for vertical movement, an elongated horizontally disposed rod spring disposed through said journal member in sliding engagement therewith, and spring supporting brackets on the inner sides of the projecting ends of said casing side members and with which the ends of said spring are slidably engaged, the spring being disposed horizontally in approximately the horizontal plane of the journal member and being independent of said floor wheel biasing spring and of such length that the biasing stress thereof on the brush is approximately constant throughout the range of vertical movemerit of the brush.

2. In a carpet sweeper, the combination with a casing comprising side members and an end member, the ends of the side members projecting beyond the end member, floor wheels disposed on the outer side of the end member, a brush provided with a pulley cooperatively associated with the floor wheels, a spring for biasing said floor wheels toward said pulley, a bracket mounted on the casing end member to depend at the outer side of the pulley, said bracket being provided with a vertical slideway, an end bar disposed on the outer side of said bracket and connected to the projecting ends of said casing side members and constituting an outer member for said slideway, a brush journal member mounted on said slideway for vertical movement, an elongated horizontally disposed rod spring connected to said journal member, and spring supporting means mounted for bodily movement with said casing for supporting the opposite ends of said spring, at least one end of the spring being slidably engaged with said means.

3. In a carpet sweeper, the combination with a casing comprising side members and an end member, floor wheels disposed on the outer side of the end member, a brush provided with a pulley cooperatively associated with the floor wheels, a spring for biasing said floor wheels toward said pulley, a support member carried by the casing and disposed at the outer side of the pulley, said support member being provided with a vertical slideway, a brush journal member mounted on said slideway for vertical movement, an elongated horizontally disposed rod-spring disposed through said journal member, and spring supporting brackets on said casing with which the ends of said spring are slidably engaged, said spring supporting brackets being disposed closely adjacent said casing side members, the flexing portion of the spring between said spring supporting brackets extending substantially the entire distance between the casing side members,ithe.spring being disposed horizontally in approximately the horizontal plane of the journal member and being independent of said floor wheel biasingspring and of such length that the biasing stress thereof on the brush is approximately constant throughout the range of vertical movement of the brush. v

4, In a carpet sweeper, the combination with a casing comprising side members and an end member, floor wheels disposed on the outer side of the end member, a brush provided with a pulley cooperatively associated with the floor wheels, a spring for biasing said floor wheels toward said pulley, a support member carried by the casing and disposed at the outer side of the pulley, said support member being provided with a vertical slideway, a brush journal member mounted on said slideway for vertical movement, an elongated horizontally disposed rod spring operatively engaging said journal member, and spring supporting brackets on said casing with which the ends of said spring are slidably engaged, said spring supporting brackets being disposed closely adjacent said casing side members, the flexing portion or the spring between said spring supporting brackets extending substantially the entire distance between the casing side members, the spring being disposed horizontally in approximately the horizontal plane of the rotating axis of said brush and being independent of said floor wheel biasing spring and of such length that the biasing stress thereof on the brush is approximately constant throughout the range of vertical movement of the brush.

5. In a carpet sweeper, the combination with a casing and floor wheels, of a brush provided with a pulley operatively associated with said floor wheels, a spring for biasing said floor wheels toward said pulley mounted for movement with said casing, a support member carried by the casing and disposed at the outer sides of the floor wheels and pulley, said support member being provided with a slideway, a journal member for said brush mounted on said slideway for vertical movement, an elongated horizontally disposed rod spring centrally engaged with said brush journal member, and means disposed closely adjacent the opposite sides of the casing and fixed relative thereto for supporting the opposite ends of said spring, at least one end of the spring being slidably engaged by said means, the length of the spring being substantially equal to the full width of the casing, said spring being disposed horizontally in substantially the plane of the journal member and being independent of said floor Wheel biasing spring and of such length that the biasing stress thereof is approximately constant throughout the range of vertical movement of the brush.

6. In a carpet sweeper, the combination with a casing and floor wheels, of a brush provided with a pulley operatively associated with said floor wheels, 9, spring for biasing said floor wheels toward said pulley mounted for movement with said casing, a support member carried by the casing and disposed at the outer sides of the floor wheels and pulley, said support member being provided with a slideway, a brush journal member ior said brush mounted on said slideway for vertical movement, an elongated horizontally disposed spring connected substantially centrally of the spring to said brush journal member, and means fixed relative to the casing for supporting the opposite ends of the spring, at least one end of the spring being slidably engaged with said connecting means, the central portion of the spring being substantially straight continuously for a susbtantial distance and extending through said journal member, said spring being disposed horizontally in substantially the plane of the journal member and being independent of said floor wheel biasing spring and of such length that the biasing stress thereof is approximately constant throughout the range of vertical movement of the brush.

7. In a carpet sweeper, the combination with a casing and floor wheels, of a brush provided with a pulley operatively associated with said floor wheels, 9, spring for biasing said fioor wheels toward said pulley mounted for movement with said casing, a support member carried by the casing and disposed at the outer sides of the floor wheels and pulley, a slideway on said support member, a journal member for said brush mounted on said slideway for vertical movement, a horizontally disposed spring connected substantially centrally of the spring to said journal member, and means on-the casing for supporting the ends of said spring, at least one end of said spring being slidably engaged with its support means, said spring being disposed horizontally and being substantially without tension when in such posi tion and in substantially the horizontal plane of the axis of the brush and being independent of said floor wheel biasing spring and of such length that the biasing stress thereof on the brush is approximately constant throughout the range of vertical movement of the brush.

FRED W. PULLEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 224,316 Wing Feb. 10, 1880 2,228,528 Miller Jan. 14, 1941 2,239,276 Smith Apr. 22, 1941 2,307,156 Pullen Jan. 5, 1943 2,418,725 Pullen Apr. 8, 1947 2,436,460 Thiele Feb. 24, 1948 

